Cholesterol is present in all cell membranes apart from bacterial cell membranes.
- It fits between phospholipid molecules provides the membrane with stability!
How does cholesterol work?
- Well, it binds to the hydrophobic tails of the phospholipids, this causes them to pack together closely - making the membrane less fluid, and more rigid!
This is important is animal cells as they are not supported by cell walls, like in plants!
- It is also important for other cells that are not supported by other cells e.g. free-floating red blood cells.